PSHE Jigsaw

At Southey Green Primary School, we have introduced a whole school PSHE scheme called Jigsaw. Jigsaw combines PSHE, emotional literacy, mindfulness, social skills and spiritual development.

Jigsaw is designed as a whole school approach, with all year groups working on the same theme (Puzzle) at the same time. This enables each Puzzle to start with an introductory assembly, generating a whole school focus for adults and children alike. There is a Weekly Celebration that highlights a theme from that week’s lessons across the school, and encourages children to try to reflect that learning in their behaviour and attitudes.

Jigsaw aims to help children know and value who they really are and how they relate to other people in this ever-changing world.

There are six Puzzles (half-term units of work) each with six Pieces (lessons). Every year group studies the same Puzzle at the same time (sequentially ordered from September to July), allowing for whole school themes and the end of Puzzle product, for example, a display or exhibition to be shared and celebrated by the whole school. Each year group is taught one lesson per week and all lessons are delivered in an age- and stage-appropriate way so that they meet children’s needs.

As a school, we investigate weekly philosophical questions, giving the opportunity for children to develop the willingness and confidence to express their views on ethical issues and personal values. In the classroom, Tower Hamlets ' Language for Talk' sentence stems are used to develop rich vocabulary during discussions. After these discussions, a democratic process is used to select answers which are then shared during our assemblies. We feel that listening to opposing views is good practise for all children and may even encourage them to think outside the box during the next discussion.

School Council - Parliament Trip

On Thursday 17th November, the school council went on a trip to London to see Parliament. The building itself was impressive to say the least! We managed to meet our local Sheffield MP for a Q&A session and we also went into the silent viewing gallery in the House of Commons to watch the MP’s discussing issues for their local constituencies. The children even got to stand in the spot where Guy Faulkes was sentenced and famous leaders have given speeches. The children learnt so much and it was a fantastic opportunity that couldn’t be missed. The majority of children in the group had not been to London before so they were amazed by the huge buildings (especially Big Ben and the London Eye). All the children were absolutely brilliant. They didn’t complain about the very long journey and early start (5am!) and their behaviour was impeccable. The staff felt extremely proud of the children, they really are a credit to our school.

Democracy in Action

The School Council visited the Town Hall on the 7th December to meet with the Southey Ward Councillors, to learn what a good Councillor is and to ask them questions. The children were brilliant throughout and were great ambassadors for the school, showing the politeness, respect, intelligence and curiosity that our children have. The Councillors were very impressed by both their behaviour and their thoughtful and perceptive questions. It has inspired some of our School Councillors to want to be Councillors themselves when they're older

It is important for us to develop the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural elements of all children . Here are just a few of the ways in which we do this.

The spiritual development of pupils:

Reflection time: assembly

Assemblies

Whole school art gallery (Xmas fayre) – friendship art

Visitors, trips

Core values

P4C enquiries

RE curriculum

Promoting teaching styles which –

-Value pupils’ questions and give them space for their own thoughts, ideas and concerns

-Enable pupils to make connections between aspects of their learning

-Encouraging pupils to relate their learning to a wider frame of reference – for example, asking ‘why?’, ‘how?’ and ‘where?’ as well as ‘what?